title: Integrative training for children and adolescents: techniques and practices for reducing sports-related injuries and enhancing athletic performance.
abstract: As more children and adolescents participate in sports and conditioning activities (sometimes without consideration for cumulative workload), it is important to establish age-appropriate training guidelines that may reduce the risk of sports-related injury and enhance athletic performance. The purpose of this article is to review the scientific evidence on youth strength and conditioning and to provide age-appropriate recommendations for integrating different strength and conditioning activities into a well-designed program that is safe, effective, and enjoyable. Integrative training is defined as a program or plan that incorporates general and specific strength and conditioning activities that enhance both health- and skill-related components of physical fitness. The cornerstone of integrative training is age-appropriate education and instruction by qualified professionals who understand the physical and psychosocial uniqueness of children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA. greg.myer@chmcc.org
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Myer
authors.forename: Avery D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Faigenbaum
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falkel
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hewett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010809:Physical Fitness